A/N: Hey guys! It's been a while. I got busy with work and stuff and I'm still juggling quite a few thing so I'll try my best to keep updating this fic whenever I can. I'm currently finishing up my Bechloe Ouran AU called 'Barden High School Host Club' and after that I'll be working on finishing the 'Your Lie in April'. If you're following those stories, be sure to expect at least 2 updates per week. But yeah, I promise I'm back and hopefully will soon get back into the swing of things with regular updates.

For now, here is chapter three featuring Beca's conundrum and the arrival of her guardian angel ;) The Bellas will be featured in the next chapter, I promise!

I don't own pitch perfect.

To say that Beca was freaking out would be an understatement.

Because no, Beca was not freaking out.

She was high-key panicking and all buzzed up from the three pots of coffee she consumed from midnight until this morning. Jesse, bless his heart, was about to go to the student stores with her as originally planned to pick up the books they were renting for the semester. Upon seeing Beca jittery he decided to ask his other best bud for a favor instead and pick the books up while ordering a few boxes of pizza and getting to the root cause of the problem.

The problem being Beca's glowing timer on her arm. The one that kicked in a good eleven and a half hours ago before disappearing a full minute after showing its presence. Her arm was now bare, no sign of the strange mystical thing that was there in the first place so of course Beca was having the time of her life explaining this to Jesse with no proof whatsoever.

"I swear Jess, I'm not crazy!" Beca frantically pleaded because no, she can't do this. She can't figure this out alone. She died the first time she did things her way and without listening to anyone only to find out that she can't be placed anywhere in the afterlife because she can't be judged because she has not lived.

What kind of person would even get themselves in this kind of predicament?

You Mitchell, you're the perfect poor fool to find yourself in this predicament. Beca thought to herself, biting into her seventh slice of pizza.

"I'm not saying I don't believe you Becs, it's just a little hard to."Jesse sighed. He looked like he was trying to follow everything Beca was saying but it was a little more difficult to do so when Beca was very much adamant about not giving him too much info on what she remembered about the future… or possible future…

Beca wasn't even sure if the memories she had still meant anything. Surely they'll start changing by the time her trials are over. She didn't know the answer. Right now all she knew was that she was tired and grumpy for having to thing about this whole thing the whole night, and frustrated too for not knowing what will happen next.

Because what if she does dare to live? What if she forms attachments she never wanted? What if something happens, something comes her way that she doesn't ever want to let go? She was ready to accept death, she really was, but will she be able to when this was all over? She's supposed to re-live a year in her life and learn some vague something that would define to her what living was all about, what her life was all meant for.

But what if she reaches the end and she does get the answers she want? Would she still be able to accept her Fate?

Or what if she fails?

Of all the few things Beca knew were true she knew she was afraid. What it exactly it was that she was afraid of wasn't well defined to her though. Death or life? Failure or succeeding? Punishment?

Heaven or hell?

Because that was a very scary thought she should be considering now.

"How about this," Jesse quickly started to say after Beca nearly dropped her slice, the questions and thoughts of the past sleepless night haunting her in daylight. "I'll stay over, sleep on your couch. I'll be here until the timer goes off again and changes the number you said was there. I'll stay with you, and we'll figure out if this is a dream or not. Together. Because Beca, if this is serious… I don't know what part I'll play, or if I even have a part at all, but you're my best friend and I'll always have your back."

Beca simply nodded not knowing what else to say.

Because what else is there to say in the first place?

Her little predicament is in the extreme side of insane.

Beca wasn't sure if Jesse believed her or not, if that was why he was staying – to prove to Beca she's just dreaming or maybe prove to himself that Beca was indeed not crazy – but she was thankful for it. Not that she would ever admit it out loud.

They decided to stay in for the night, Jesse calling Benji to swing by and drop her books and maybe bring his PlayStation over so they could entertain themselves as they waited for midnight. Jesse kept pushing about watching all kinds of movies to get Beca's thoughts out of her borrowed time situation and Beca relented to letting him watch movies while she made some mixes.

If there was anything that could get her to clear her head then it would be mixes.

But she had to give up on that plan barely half an hour into their wait, distract, and not think about anything related to the whole one year thing when Jesse couldn't help but be nosy.

Thankfully that was when Benji arrived, with Chinese food too, and they started playing some horror survival game to pass the time.

Beca was busy trying to solve some puzzle so they could get through the next stage when Benji finally asked the question that burst her happy bubble, the one that prevented her from stressing out about the whole trial thing.

"Well, Beca may or may not have had a dream that she lived this life of a successful music producer, reaching her dreams and all, only to die and be sent to re-live a year of her life because St. Peter can't judge her since in that reality she hadn't lived. And now, Beca thinks she's re-living that year and apparently there was this thing around midnight where her arms glowed blue and there was some weird timer to remind her of how long she has left. What she does in this borrowed time will decide her Fate, I think." Jesse said nonchalantly as he sank his teeth into the spicy pork dish that Benji got him.

Beca grumbled, giving Benji a side-eye to see his reaction. She was afraid that he'll start thinking she was crazy. Beca liked Benji, and thanks to him being best friends with Jesse, he's sort of kinda friends with him too. She didn't care, of course, if Benji thought she was, a lot of people already thought a dozen different things about her and she didn't care, she never cared.

At least that's what she told herself.

But Benji didn't look at Beca like she was crazy, no. His glance at her with wide eyes, a look of realization setting in and simply hummed and nodded. "Wow… tough predicament." Benji mumbled as he kept nodding before standing up from the lounge and stretching. "Well, look at the time, I remember I have this, uh, this thing that I have to do, right. Yeah. So, um, gotta go now. You keep the console and just keep playing, return it whenever, no biggie really, and uh, I'm gonna bounce." he announced.

Suspicious reaction well noted, Beca shoved the controller to Jesse and excused herself. "I'll walk you down. I think it's about time I check my mailbox anyways."

"Uh… you really don't have to Beca, besides, it's…" Benji tried stammering out as an excuse.

"Oh, no, no. I should really step up my hosting skills anyways. Let me walk you out, make sure you don't trip on your way to the parking lot." Beca then said, walking up to Benji and ushering him out of the apartment. "Be back in a sec Jess."

"Sure, sure." Jesse mumbled, barely having his reply heard as Beca hurriedly shut the door behind her.

"So, lovely weather we're having out." Benji then said as soon as they stepped out, trying to make small talk and Beca simply glared back.

"You know something," she stated more than asked and before Benji tried to make some crappy excuse Beca cut him off. "You're going to tell me what you know, do you understand Benjamin Applebaum, if that's even your real name." she stated, jabbing him with a finger on his chest. "What do you know?"

"Honestly, Beca, I don't…" Benji tried to excuse himself.

"Cut the crap and tell me. I'm scared Benji," Beca said with all honesty, because she really was. There was such a thing as the fear of the unknown, it makes people do stupid things. Well, this fear she has, it's the fear of the unknown. Like the ultimate one, not just a fear of something she can't understand. It's a fear to her life, her dream, everything…

Benji took a deep breath. "I'm not supposed to tell you anything… I'm going to get in trouble for this…" he started to say and suddenly things clicked in Beca's mind.

Benji's always there in all of Jesse's lowest points. He was there when he needed him the most, when he needed a listening ear to give sound advice. He was always willing to help, lend a hand or two… if Beca was being honest, she half-assumed that maybe he was just in love with him but now it kind of sort of makes sense… Even Luke said he had some charge. He was an undercover guardian angel.

"You're Jesse's guardian angel." she whispered as she understood and Benji nodded.

"The trial thing is real Beca, you're not going crazy." Benji sighed, providing her an answer.

"But how? I mean, you're like us. Simply like us with the PlayStation and the food allergies and all…" Beca trailed on.

Benji simply shrugged. "We assume human identities. At some point our charges, well, they start to enter the toughest hurdles of their lives. Sometimes it happens earlier or other in the later parts of our lives. It's like, we're undercover agents until the time that our charges won't need us anymore. We come and go in their lives as we are needed. College, in particular, is this major part in a lot of people's lives where they either make it or break it. That's why I'm here, to make sure Jesse doesn't lose his way and try to keep him on the right path. Ever heard of the right ear-angel, left ear-devil thing? That's real. We need to fight against those kinds of enemies to keep things balanced."

"Then, then why…" Beca went on, trying to piece things together.

"Have you not met yours? Well, you were, are, kind of aloof. You've always got your walls up. I think you just never let them near you or help you out." Benji explained. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Jesse, I didn't want him to know about me. And I'm so not allowed to help you out, that's for your guardian angel to do. Us interfering with other's charges is a major no, no. But I'm letting Jesse stay, and if you need just someone to talk to, I'm here. You need a friend Beca, no one can weather out life alone. Please don't tell Jesse though."

Beca simply nodded and muttered "Thanks." She watched as Benji left and she took the long way back to her apartment, deep I her thoughts.

Maybe Benji had a point. She can't live through life alone, if anything she can't go through this year all by herself.

Jesse was close to nodding off for the third time. He only stopped himself because he realized that he had a box of leftover pizza on his lap with a dipping sauce and didn't want to get any of it anywhere. Beca, on the other hand, had dozed off, the control barely in her hands as she was obsessively trying to cram in all of their goodies in some briefcase for their inventory in the game.

Well, at least it's on that screen, it would have been tough if Beca went down for the count in the middle of a navigating through some haunted castle and enemies come up to murder them.

Jesse decided to make himself useful and clear up a few things on her coffee table and possibly make some coffee to stay awake too. He kept his eye on the clock by the kitchen counter, just two more minutes and they could possibly resolve this matter.

Does Jesse believe Beca? Well, a part of him always will. But one has to admit, Beca's story was a little off the rockers.

But what if it was true? What could it mean? Jesse wasn't even sure.

He was hanging by the kitchen counter, waiting for the coffee to be done when it happened. Beca screamed just before she fell onto the floor, a glowing blue light appearing on her arm. Jesse frantically rushed towards her only to find the blue ribbons, the timer, and a very frightened Beca watching as her timer goes down by another day.

And then it was gone. The light, the glowing mystical tattoo, everything. He crouched down and looked at Beca just in time as she turned to face him with a set look on her face.

Believe me now? Beca silently dared to ask, or at least, that's what Jesse got.

And he did. Oh, he most definitely did.

Which meant that in a year… well, who knows what happens? All that Jesse knew was that he would be there to help her out with anything. He'll do anything he can for Beca.

Emily was a little annoyed that it took her two days to get to where she needed to be. If anyone said that politics and paperwork was not a thing up where she's at, well, they're wrong.

Especially about the paperwork, because the mountain of forms she needed to fill-up took a while to finish and get processed.

But now, now she's at Barden University. A flurry of students surrounding her, trying to get from one place to another as the activity fair was in full swing.

Emily turned around, taking it all in, when she saw a face she knew could help her get to where she wants. Dark hair, kind look on his face, and leading a pack of Trebles through the crowd gathered in the auditorium, she could be mistaken but she would bet her halo that she just spotted Jesse Swanson, Beca's best friend.

Emily took a deep breath. "You got this Ems," she whispered to herself. She won't fail her charge, no. She'll do everything she can to help Beca pass this trial.

But for now, it was time to get started.